This data item is only attached to parents/guardians in a family and indicates how many children aged 0 to 4 years old they have. It only applies to children who usually live in the same dwelling.

In a lone parent family, the number of children are assigned to the lone parent or guardian record.

In a couple family, both parents/guardians have the number of children assigned to their records. For example, if both parents records indicate 1 child, they have 1 child together, not 1 child each (i.e. not 2 children in the family).

The number of children reported is limited to '2 or more children aged 0 - 4.'

Other members in the family will be recorded as 'Not a parent / Not applicable.' Unrelated members in the household will also be recorded as 'Not a parent / Not applicable'